The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-08-30

and a stone crock of the wild plums, for
Kinda had child like fondness forsweeta
"Hinda," she faltered, "c>sEst you wash for
me this weeki Do try-there's good Kinda"
The old woman wriggled herself about on her
uneasy couch, wringing her hands and rolling
up the yellow white of her African eyebalh
In piteous fashion.
"Nos dis var week, honey" she answered,
piaintively; "not for de queen an all de royal
chilluns. No, ner next week neider. Dom
knows I'LL eber wash agin, honey" with
mournful croak in her voice.
Roxy's countenance fell "But, Hinda,"
she pleaded, "Aunt Sally isn't able to wash:
and besides, she has found q whole thicket OF
witchhazel somewhere up the creek, and she
won't sleep night or day until she gets the
roots ali dug and scraped, and the bark strip
ped off and put sleeping in alcohol Kinda"
with a sudden inspiration-''do you think
/ could do tue washingp
"You, Miss Roxy-oh, git Quit"
"Buu, Kinda, somebody must wash"
sit amt no work for q young lady, Miss
Roxy" said Kinda, decisively.
Everything is work for a young lady"
pleaded Roxy, 'tif it has got to be done"
Kinda shook her head "Yo'n break yo'
back, honey, an parboil yo' hands, AMI
"Oh, don't mind all that, Hlnda, il only
Aunt Sally would think the clothes looked
decent" urged Roxy "Tel me how to do it,
Hinda-there's darling"
aWell, honey, yo' put de clothes asoak de
night afore," unwillingly began Kinda, in
plenty o. bar soap sliced up thin; an yo' bile
'em well, an yo' doan forgit de bluein, an
mind yo' doan git de starch too stiff, an be
suah yo' rensh de clothes right smart, an
o.. oh! dar goes de pain in my po' ole bones
agin, jes for all dc world like crooked light
nin'.n
So Roxy returned home not much wiser
than she went. I'D give all my algebra and
geometry" sighed she, "if only l knew how
to wash"
Joy of joys, as she went past Squire Honey
wells big cream colored house she saw
colony of white garments, veritabls flags OF
truce to her troubled mind, fiuttering In the
wind from a line in the back yard
"They're washing" said Roxy to herself,
with Frightening face. SHOWS the time for
me to go in and see how it is done"
She slipped insinuatingly in at the open
kitchen door, whence a cloud Of white steam
floated forth @Good morning, Docia," she
said to Miss Theodocia Honeywell, the Squires
daughter "Do you suppose your grand
mother would like jar of my wild plumsi
They're q nice color, and keep their flavor
beautifully. No, don't stop your work" las
Miss Theodocia paused courteously, and be-
gan to wipe her soapy arms on roller towel;
Ego on just as if wasn't here"
And she eagerly settled herself to take note
of the stout young woman's every motion
rrl-- - yxycrx
a great deal too well defined to allow her to
spend her time in washing when there was
company.
"Your're very kind, I'm sure" said she,
abnt the clothes can wait. dare say granny
would relish the plums. and. anyhow, we've
city boarder this month, an artist young
gentleman, and any little luxury comes in
handy for the table"
aAn artists" wistfully repeated Roxy.
eyes" nodded Docia "Such pictures as
he pants with q squeeze or two out OF his
color tubes, and dab Of his brushes! de-
clare it seems like magic. You paint too,
Roxy Stephens, don't you?"
"a little" confessed Roxy, thinking guiltily
of the peach blossom placques and the panels
covered with abortive attempts at autumn
leaves that she had spoiled. SHUT painting is
no use, Docia. For a woman, mean. I'd
deal rather know how to-wash."
Docia Honeywell burst out laughing
"Wnat odd things you do say, Roxyp cried
she. "But when it comes to painting being
no use, just wish you could see the little
bits OF canvas and mill board that our Mr.
Jefferys gets hundred and fifty dollars for.
and-ffty-dollarsl Going, are
youY'-for, since the business Of washing was
temporarily suspended, poor Roxy's purpose
was blighted "Well, I'm sure it was very
kind of you to think Of the preserved plums,
and We'll be very thankful for them, especi-
ally since mas citron all nodded, and the
blackberries fermented, and blew the tops off
the cans and broke the cellar windows. And,
Roxy, if I'll stop in some afternoon will You
show me that new crochet stitch?-the one In
shells and waves, you know, like Mrs. Deacon
Dodd's shawl"
Roxy promised that she would, and set
forth, wondering to herself how it was that
she lacked the moral courage to ask Docia
for instruction in the mysteries of the wash
tub just as frankly as Docia had requested
her assistance in unraveling the complexities
of t;le new crochet stitch.
ST think must be dreadful goose" sighed
Roxy "But, all the same, that washing has
got to be done, whether well or ILL 1t can't be
worse than those algebra problems in the
second book. As K and y equals z, so must
soap, water, and plenty Of sunshine equal
clean clothes"
And so the next morning, when Aunt Sally
had eaten the ham and eggs which Roxy had
now learned to fry in so appetizing manner,
and drunk the coffee which was as clear as
any amber, she set forth on her daily task of
root and herb hunting, and Roxy carried the
basket of clothes out to the shore of the
brook, where a mighty old chestnut tree
spread its dome of shade, washed and wrung
and rinsed them until it was q mercy that
there were only two threads left together.
Thin she hung them out on the lines, which
she had stretched from tree to tree, skewering
each article safely in its place with wooden
pins, so that no frolicsome wind should lure
1t away.
sand now" said Roxy, as with head
al 40 CHI -